Meet the Doctors

Dr. Richard Casteen,

“I am a Bakersfield native. I attended Harding, Compton Jr. High, and Highland High Schools. My first job was working in the potato sheds on Edison Highway. My father, William F. Casteen, M.D. and sister Carol Casteen, M.D. have been Ophthalmologist here for many years. If I’m not working, I am probably buying an actor friend a meal somewhere in Los Angeles or trying to slow down in Santa Ynez Valley. I have had a very diverse life and became interested in dentistry through a discussion with my Art teacher when studying to become a potter. In the 1990’s I developed a residential care facility for the elderly called Home Again. I developed a theater company in Los Angeles called Tom Cats which produced original plays and the classics. I have a love for animals and feed more stray cats and dogs in Bakersfield than you can imagine. I love flying airplanes and I am proud to be an Eagle Scout.”

Dr. Bob Willis,

Prosthodontist, Maxofacial Prosthetics

Dr. Willis has been practicing clinical prosthodontics for over 30 years. He is a board-certified prosthodontist as well as maxofacial prosthetics. Before choosing to relocate to California, Dr. Willis was the clinical director of the Clearchoice Dental Implant Center in St. Louis for nine years and during that time restored over 3,000 All On Four cases. Dr. Willis has two children; his son is a personal fitness trainer and his daughter is in school to become a veterinarian. When not working, Dr. Willis enjoys gardening, cooking with wine, and listening to The Rolling Stones and Jimmy Buffet. He has a passion for vintage cars and motorcycles and enjoys bicycling. He is also a big supporter of animal rescue. Dr. Willis is a professional member of the American Dental Association, American College of prosthodontics, International Academy of Osseointegration, and St. Johns Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital.

Dr. Richard Petty,

Oral Surgeon/Anesthesiologist

Dr.Petty travels to our office twice a week to see patient’s in need of oral surgery treatment. Our partners, as well as outside dentists, refer their patients to Dr. Petty for complex teeth extractions, especially impacted teeth and wisdom teeth, and also for the evaluation of oral cancers, tumors, cysts, and biopsies. Since Dr. Petty is also a licensed anesthesiologist, patients have the option of being put to sleep during treatment. Our doctors also partner with Dr. Petty to offer IV sedation to their fearful patients.

Dr. Petty is a Southern California native who attended Dental School at USC. He completed his three-year, post-doctorate residency in Oral Surgery at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center. He is a third generation Oral Surgeon who is fluent in Spanish, having lived in Argentina for two years. His hobbies include following sports, photography, and solving crossword puzzles. He and his wife, Tami, love animals and enjoy spending time in the mountains of Southern California.

Dr. Fernando Verdugo, DMD

Diplomate, American Board of Periodontolgy

Dr. Verdugo travels to our office twice a month to see Capital Dental Group patients, and patients referred by other local offices, for periodontal concerns. If you have any periodontal concerns call our office to make an appointment to meet with Dr. Verdugo.

Doctor of Medical Dentistry with Honors in Periodontics and Anatomical Pathology since 1993, Dr. Fernando Verdugo has been practicing dentistry for the last 24 years and engaged in the specialty of Periodontics & implants since 1998. He has been a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology since 2003. Board certified periodontists achieve their Diplomate status after completion of written and oral examinations to demonstrate evidence of high degree of knowledge, skill and experience in the science and art of Periodontology. Dr. Verdugo is dedicated to the practice of evidence-based periodontal and implant therapy.

Dr. Verdugo’s PhD research work entitled “Intramembranous Osseous Transplants: factors influencing transplanted bone volume and donor site repair. Developing Safe Antimicrobial Protocols” focused on intraoral autogenous bone transplants for jaw reconstruction and was defended in September 2011 obtaining Magna Cum Laude with “Doctor Europeus” special mention.He is a national and international lecturer.

He is a national and international lecturer in topics related to the long-term peri-implant facial tissue stability of implants placed on the esthetic zone, Human bone biology and repair, dental implants, peri-implant disease, bone transplantation, bone microbial contamination/decontamination, oral microbiology and soft & hard tissue reconstruction, and the impact of past history of periodontitis on sinus augmentation procedures, and the biological impact of the micro-gap at the implant restorative interface.
He currently conducts research on the above topics and has published numerous articles in scientific peer-review journals: Journal of Periodontology, Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, Clinical Oral Investigations, Archives of Oral Biology, International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry, International Journal of Immunopathology & Pharmacology and Gerodontology.

At the present moment, Dr. Verdugo is engaged in private practice in Periodontics & Dental Implants in California. He teaches and serves as visiting Professor at the Catholic University of Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy and as a consultant Periodontist at the VA Hospital, Greater Los Angeles, Healthcare System. He also lectures at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry and VA Hospital in Los Angeles for the advanced residency programs.

Dr. Bipin Patel,

Anesthesiologist

Dr. Bipin is a graduate of the University of Texas, where he obtained his MD. He completed his surgical internship and anesthesiology residency at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital of Columbia University in New York. He is Board Certified both in Anesthesiology and Pain Management.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Patel has been working in all facets of anesthesiology. During surgery, Dr. Patel ensures the course of anesthetic is safe and smooth and the recovery is without any event or incidents; his thoroughness is impeccable. With every anesthetic he administers anti-nausea medication, pain medication and medication to decrease the swelling from dental surgery.